Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01M—LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING
  • F01M1/00—Pressure lubrication
  • F01M1/16—Controlling lubricant pressure or quantity
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01M—LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING
  • F01M1/00—Pressure lubrication
  • F01M1/10—Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01M—LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING
  • F01M1/00—Pressure lubrication
  • F01M1/10—Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters
  • F01M2001/105—Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters characterised by the layout of the purification arrangements
  • F01M2001/1071—Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters characterised by the layout of the purification arrangements comprising oil tanks

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a pressure regulating arrangement for a lubricating system of a piston engine in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 .
• the invention also concerns a method for regulating pressure in a lubricating system of piston engine, as defined in the other independent claim.
• An object of the present invention is to provide an improved pressure regulating arrangement for a lubricating system of a piston engine.
• the pressure regulating arrangement comprises a pressure regulating valve having an inlet that can be arranged in fluid communication with a lubricating oil line where pressure needs to be regulated, an outlet that can be arranged in fluid communication with a pressure release line, and a valve member that is movable between a closed position preventing flow between the inlet and the outlet and an open position allowing flow between the inlet and the outlet, a first pressure- controlled control valve, which is configured to move from a closed position to an open position when a control pressure at the first control valve exceeds a first predetermined limit value, wherein the opening of the first control valve is configured to allow the movement of the valve member of the pressure regulating valve from the closed position to the open position, and a control line that can be arranged in fluid communication with the lubricating oil line for transmitting control pressure to the first control valve.
• Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method for regulating pressure in a lubricating system of a piston engine, the lubricating system comprising a pressure regulating valve for releasing pressure from a lubricating oil line into a pressure release line, at least two pressure-controlled control valves, each of the control valves being configured to open when a control pressure at the valve exceeds an in- dividual predetermined limit value, wherein the opening of any of the control valves is configured to open the pressure regulating valve.
• the pressure regulating arrangement comprises a second pressure-controlled control valve, which is configured to move from a closed position to an open position when a control pressure at the second control valve exceeds a second predetermined limit value, which is lower than the first predetermined limit value, wherein the opening of the second control valve is configured to allow the movement of the valve member of the pressure regulating valve from the closed position to the open position, and the pressure regulating arrangement further comprises an actively controllable valve for opening and closing fluid communication between the control line and the second control valve.
• the method according to the invention comprises the steps of determining a parameter or a set of parameters describing the operating conditions of the engine, based on the parameters, determining at least two different operating conditions requiring different lubricating oil pressures, monitoring the operating conditions of the engine, and in each detected operating conditions of the en- gine, transmitting control pressure from the lubricating oil line to at least that control valve, which has the lowest predetermined limit value corresponding to at least the required lubricating oil pressure, and preventing transmission of control pressure to those control valves of which predetermined limit values are lower than the required lubricating oil pressure.
• the pressure level in a lubricating system can be easily lowered from a certain pressure level to a lower pressure level.
• the pressure levels can be adjusted so that when a first control valve is responsible for the pressure regula- tion, the oil pressure in the lubricating system can meet the needs of difficult operating conditions of the engine. On the other hand, when a lower oil pressure is sufficient, a second control valve can regulate the pressure and the energy consumption of the lubricating system is reduced.
• the pressure regulating ar- rangement comprises a third pressure-controlled control valve, which is configured to open when a control pressure at the third control valve exceeds a third predetermined limit value, which is lower than the second predetermined limit value, wherein the opening of the third control valve is configured to allow the movement of the valve member of the pressure regulating valve from the closed position to the open position, and the pressure regulating arrangement further comprises an actively controllable valve for opening and closing fluid communication between the control line and the third control valve.
• the pressure in the lubricating system can be lowered to a third pressure level, which is even lower than the second pressure level.
• the lubricating system can thus be operated at three different pressure levels according to the operating conditions of the engine.
• valves for opening and closing the fluid communication between the control line and the second and/or the third control valves can be, for instance, solenoid valves. Also a single valve could be used to select which of the control valves are in fluid communication with the control line.
• FIG. 1 shows an example of a lubricating system of a piston engine
• Fig. 2 shows a pressure regulating arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention for a lubricating system of a piston engine. Description of embodiments of the invention
• FIG 1 a lubricating system of a piston engine.
• the engine is a large internal combustion engine, such as a main or an auxiliary engine of a ship or an engine that is used at a power plant for producing electricity.
• the cylinder bore of the engine is at least 150 mm.
• the rated power of the engine is at least 150 kW per cylinder.
• the engine comprises six cylinders that are arranged in line, but the engine can comprise any reasonable number of cylinders.
• the cylinders could also be arranged for ex- ample in a V-configuration.
• the lubricating system is configured to deliver lubricating oil to the components of the engine for lubrication and/or cooling purposes.
• the lubricating system supplies lubricating oil for instance to the main bearings 2 of the engine, but the lubricating oil can be supplied also to various other places.
• the lubricating system comprises an oil pump 1 , which pressurizes the lubricating oil and feeds it into a lubricating oil line 4, in which the lubricating oil is conducted to the components where the lubricating oil is needed.
• the lubricating oil is taken from an oil reservoir 6.
• the oil reservoir is a wet oil sump 6.
• the engine could also be provided with a dry oil sump, in which case the oil would be taken from a separate tank, into which the oil is introduced from the dry sump.
• the oil pump 1 produces a constant flow rate at constant engine speed.
• the oil pump 1 can be, for instance, a screw pump.
• the lubricating system is also provided with a prelubricating pump 7, which ensures that lubricating oil flow is available also when the en- gine is started.
• the prelubricating pump 7 is arranged in parallel with the oil pump 1 .
• the prelubricating pump 7 is electrically driven.
• An oil cooler 8 is arranged downstream from the oil pump 1 for cooling the pressurized lubricating oil.
• a by-pass duct 9 is arranged in parallel with the oil cooler 8 for allowing bypassing of the oil cooler 8 when the lubricating oil tem- perature is low, for instance when the engine is started.
• a by-pass valve 10 connects the by-pass line 9 to the lubricating oil line 4 on the downstream side of the oil cooler 8.
• the by-pass valve 10 is used for selectively guiding the lubricating oil flow from the oil pump 1 either through the oil cooler 8 or through the by-pass line 9.
• the by-pass valve 10 can be temperature-controlled for au- tomatically keeping the lubricating oil temperature within the appropriate temperature range.
• a filter 1 1 is arranged downstream from the by-pass valve 10.
• the filter 1 1 is an automatic backflushing filter, which is connected to a backflushing line 12. Automatic backflushing of the filter 1 1 ensures proper functioning of the filter 1 1 and minimizes the need for maintenance.
• the backflushing line 12 is provided with a centrifugal filter 13, which removes particles from the lubricating oil before the oil is returned to the oil sump 6.
• the backflushing line 12 is further provided with a three-port valve 14, which allows bypassing of the centrif- ugal filter 13 when needed.
• a pressure release line 15 is connected to the lubricating oil line 4 between the oil pump 1 and the oil cooler 8.
• the pressure release line 15 is connected to the lubricating oil line 4 immediately after the oil pump 1 .
• the pressure release line 15 is provided with a pressure regulating valve 16, which is controlled on the basis of the pressure in the lubricating oil line 4.
• the pressure regulating valve 16 opens and allows lubricating oil flow from the lubricating oil line 4 via the pressure release line 15 into the oil sump 6 reducing thus the pressure in the lubricating oil line 4.
• the control pressure is transmitted to the pressure regulating valve 1 6 via a control line 17.
• the control line 17 is connected to the lubricating oil line 4 downstream from the main bearings 2 of the engine.
• the pressure in the lubricating system is thus controlled on the basis of the pressure detected in the lubricating oil line 4 after the main bearings 2.
• the point where the control line 17 is connected to the lubricating oil line 4 is a pressure monitoring point. Due to the flow resistance in the lubricating system, the pressure after the main bearings 2, i.e. at the pressure monitoring point is lower than the pressure immediately after the oil pump 1 .
• the pressure of the lubricating system could also be monitored at some other point of the lubricating system instead of the point shown in figure 1 .
• the most suitable point for the connection of the control line 17 depends on the configuration of the lubricating system and the lubrication and/or cooling needs of different components of the lubricating system.
• the lubricating system described above is only an example of a lubricating system where a pressure regulating arrangement ac- cording to the invention can be used. All the components listed above are not necessary, and on the other hand, the lubricating system can comprise many additional components.
• the lubricating oil can be used also for cooling purposes, for instance for jet cooling of the pistons of the engine.
• FIG. 2 shows a pressure regulating arrangement according to an embodi- ment of the invention.
• the pressure regulating valve 16 of the lubricating system forms part of the pressure regulating arrangement.
• the pressure regulating valve 16 comprises an inlet 22 and an outlet 23.
• the inlet 22 of the pressure regulating valve 16 is in fluid communication with the lubricating oil line 4.
• the outlet 23 of the pressure regulating valve 16 is in fluid communication with the pressure release line 15.
• the pressure regulating valve 16 comprises a valve member 24 having a closed position and an open position.
• valve member 24 In the closed position, which is shown in figure 2, flow from the inlet 22 of the pressure regulating valve 16 to the outlet of the pressure regulating valve 16 is prevented. In the open position of the valve member 24, flow from the inlet 22 to the outlet 23 is allowed.
• the pressure regulating valve 16 is constructed so that the fluid pressure in the inlet 22 of the pressure regulating valve 16 pushes the valve member 24 towards the open position.
• an end surface of the valve member 24 forms a first piston surface 29, on which the pressure in the inlet 22 of the pressure regulating valve 16 is applied.
• An opposite end of the valve member 24 forms a second piston surface 30, which delimits a fluid chamber 27, which is arranged inside the pressure regulating valve 16.
• the pressure regulating valve 16 comprises a spring 28, which pushes the valve member 24 towards the closed position.
• the pressure in the fluid chamber 27 thus creates together with the force of the spring 28 a closing force, and the pressure regulating valve 16 opens when the force created by the fluid pressure acting on the first piston surface 29 exceeds the combined closing force of the spring 28 and the hydraulic pressure acting on the second piston surface 30.
• the valve member 24 of the pressure regulating valve 16 is thus allowed to move from the closed position towards the open position when the pressure in the fluid chamber 27 is released.
• the fluid chamber 27 of the pressure regulating valve 16 is in fluid communication with the lubricating oil line 4 via an actuating line 34.
• the pressure in the fluid chamber 27 is thus substantially the same as in the lubricating oil line 4.
• the inlet 22 of the pressure regu- lating valve 16 and the actuating line 34 are connected to the same point of the lubricating oil line 4, and the pressure in the actuating line 34 is thus substantially the same as in the inlet 22.
• the area of the second piston surface 30 is greater than the area of the first piston surface 29 of the valve member 24.
• the actuating line 34 is provided with a first control valve 19, which is arranged downstream from a connecting line 35 connecting the fluid chamber 27 of the pressure regulating valve 16 to the actuating line 34.
• the first control valve 19 can be used for controlling the opening of the pressure regulating valve 16.
• the downstream side of the first control valve 19 is connected to the pressure release line 15.
• the first control valve 19 is a pressure-controlled valve, which is kept in a closed position by spring force.
• the first control valve 1 9 is in fluid communication with the lubricating oil line 4 via the control line 17.
• the control line 17 transmits control pressure to the first control valve 19.
• the control line 17 is connected to the lubricating oil line 4 close to the main bearings 2 of the engine.
• the pressure regulating valve 16 is thus controlled on the basis of the lubricating oil pressure in the main bearings 2.
• the first control valve 19 is configured to open when the pressure in the control line 17 exceeds a first predetermined limit value.
• the opening pressure of the first control valve 19 is adjustable.
• the first control valve 19 is adjusted to open at a pressure that equals the maximum lubricating oil pressure needed at the main bearings 2 of the engine.
• the pressure can be, for instance, 5 bar.
• the first control valve 19 is opened. Fluid flow from the fluid chamber 27 into the pressure release line 15 is thus allowed.
• the closing force applied to the valve member 24 of the pressure regulating valve 24 by the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber 27 is reduced, and the hydraulic force acting on the first piston surface 29 of the valve member 24 can push the valve member 24 towards the open position, allowing thus flow from the lubricating oil line 4 into the pressure release line 15.
• Flow from the lubricating oil line 4 into the fluid chamber 27 via the actuating line 34 is allowed.
• the actuating line 34 is provided with a first throttle 31 , which is configured to cause a pressure drop when the lubricating oil flows through it. The pressure drop allows the pressure in the fluid chamber 27 to decrease and the valve member 24 to move to the open position.
• a second throttle 32 is arranged in the connecting line 35.
• the actuating line 34 is provided with a branch 36, which is connected to the control line 17.
• the branch 36 is provided with a check valve 33, which allows flow from the actuating line 34 to the control line 17, when a predetermined pressure difference over the check valve 33 is exceeded.
• the predetermined pressure difference can be, for instance, 3 bar.
• the control line 17 is provided with a third throttle 37, which ensures that the pressure in the branch 36 does not disappear via the control line 17 when the check valve 33 opens, but the pressure in the lubricating oil line 4 at the point where the pressure regulating valve 16 is connected to it becomes the control pressure of the first control valve 19.
• the third throttle 37 also prevents pulsations in the control line 17.
• the first control valve 19 maintains the pressure at the pressure monitoring point of the lubricating oil line 4 around the first predetermined limit value.
• the first predetermined limit value is chosen so that the lubrication of the main bearings 2 of the engine is sufficient even in harsh operating conditions of the engine. However, this lubricating oil pressure is needed only occasionally, and by maintaining the lubricating oil pressure at that level, energy is wasted. Therefore, the pressure regulating arrangement according to the invention comprises even a second control valve 20. Also the second control valve 20 is a pressure-controlled valve. The second control valve 20 is configured to open when a control pressure at the second control valve 20 exceeds a second predetermined limit value, which is lower than the first limit value. Also the open- ing pressure of the second control valve 20 is adjustable.
• the second predetermined limit value can be, for instance, 4 bar.
• a second control line 38 connects the second control valve 20 to the control line 17.
• the second control line 38 is provided with an actively controllable valve 25, which can be used for opening and closing fluid communication between the control line 17 and the second control valve 20. Control pressure is thus transmitted to the second control valve 20 only when the valve 25 is open.
• the valve 25 is a solenoid valve.
• the valve 25 is a normally closed valve. When the solenoid of the valve 25 is not energized, the valve 25 thus remains in the closed position preventing flow from the control line 17 to the second control valve 20.
• a second connecting line 39 connects the second control valve 20 to the actuating line 34. When the valve 25 is switched to the open position, flow from the control line 17 to the second control valve 20 is allowed.
• the downstream side of the second control valve 20 is connected to the pressure release line 15.
• the second control valve 20 opens allowing flow from the fluid chamber 27 of the pressure regulating valve 16 into the pressure release line 15.
• the pressure regulating valve 16 thus opens and maintains the pressure in the lubricating oil line 4 at the pressure monitoring point around the second predetermined limit value.
• the first control valve 19 receives the same control pressure as the second control valve 20, but since the first predetermined limit value is greater than the second predetermined limit value, the first control valve 19 does not open.
• the second control line 38 is provided with a filter 40, which protects the solenoid valve 25. In the embodiment of figure 2, the valve 25 is a 3/2 valve.
• valve 25 When the valve 25 is in the closed position, the volume between the valve 25 and the second control valve 20 is connected to a tank. This ensures that possible leakage through the valve 25 does not increase pressure in the second control line 38 downstream from the valve 25 and the second control valve 20 remains closed.
• the pressure regulating arrangement comprises even a third control valve 21 .
• the third control valve 21 is a pressure-controlled valve.
• the third control valve 21 is configured to open when a con- trol pressure at the third control valve 21 exceeds a third predetermined limit value, which is lower than the second limit value.
• the opening pressure of the third control valve 21 is adjustable.
• the third predetermined limit value can be, for instance, 3 bar.
• a third control line 41 connects the third control valve 21 to the control line 17.
• the third control valve 21 is connected to the second control line 38 upstream from the solenoid valve 25, but the third control line 41 could also be connected directly to the control line 17.
• the third control line 41 is provided with an actively controllable valve 26, which can be used for opening and closing fluid communication between the control line 17 and the third control valve 21 . Control pressure is thus transmitted from the control line 17 to the third control valve 21 only when the valve 26 is open.
• the valve 26 is a solenoid valve.
• the valve 26 is a normally closed valve. When the solenoid of the valve 26 is not energized, the valve 26 thus remains in the closed position preventing flow from the control line 17 to the third control valve 21 .
• a third connecting line 42 connects the third control valve 21 to the actuating line 34.
• the valve 26 When the valve 26 is switched to the open position, flow from the control line 17 to the third control valve 21 is allowed.
• the downstream side of the third control valve 21 is connected to the pressure release line 15.
• the third control valve 21 opens allowing flow from the fluid chamber 27 of the pressure regulating valve 16 into the pressure release line 15.
• the pressure regulating valve 16 thus opens and maintains the pressure in the lubricating oil line 4 at the pressure monitoring point around the third predetermined limit value.
• the first control valve 19 and the second control valve 20 receive the same control pressure as the third control valve 21 , but since the first predetermined limit value and the second predetermined limit value are greater than the third predetermined limit value, the first control valve 19 and the second control valve 20 do not open.
• the third control line 41 is connected to the second control line 38 downstream from the filter 40, which therefore protects also the solenoid valve 26 in the third control line 41 .
• the valve 26 in the third control line 41 is a 3/2 valve.
• the control valves 19, 20, 21 and the solenoid valves 25, 26 can be integrated in a valve module 18.
• the pressure needed in the lubricating system varies according to the operating conditions of the engine.
• the pressure in a lubricating system comprising a pressure regulating arrangement according to the invention can be regulated so that the use of excessive lubricating oil pressures can be avoided.
• the required lubricating oil pressure can depend on several different factors, such as the engine load, engine speed and the use of variable inlet valve closing timing (VIC). For instance, a higher lubricating oil pressure may be needed when a VIC function is in use or when the engine load is high and jet cooling of the pistons of the engine requires greater cooling oil flow rate.
• VIC variable inlet valve closing timing
• a parameter or a set of parameters describing the operating conditions of the engine can be determined.
• the parameters can include, for instance, engine load, engine speed and the status of the VIC function (on/off). Based on the parameters, different engine operating conditions are determined. For each operating conditions, a corre- sponding required lubricating oil pressure is determined. When the engine is operated, the operating conditions of the engine are monitored.
• control pressure from the lubricating oil line 4 is transmitted to that control valve 19, 20, 21 , which sets the lubricating oil pressure at the pressure monitoring point to the lowest possible level corresponding to at least the required lubricating oil pressure. Transmission of control pressure to the control valves 19, 20, 21 having a lower opening pressure than the required lubricating oil pressure is prevented.
• the status of a VIC function can be monitored.
• the VIC function When the VIC function is switched on, it can be considered as an indication of operating con- ditions requiring lubricating oil pressure of 5 bar.
• the first control valve 19 is adjusted to open when the control pressure is 5bar
• the second control valve 20 is adjusted to open when the control pressure is 4 bar
• the third control valve 21 is adjusted to open when the control pressure is 3 bar. Only the first control valve 19 can thus maintain the pressure at the pressure monitoring point at the required level. Transmission of the control pressure to the second control valve 20 and to the third control valve 21 is thus prevented, and the first control valve 19 regulates the pressure.
• the load of the engine can be monitored.
• a certain load is considered as an indication of operating conditions, where lubricating oil pressure of 4 bar is sufficient.
• the valve 25 in the second control line 38 can be opened for transmitting control pressure from the control line 17 to the second control valve 20.
• the valve 26 in the third control line 41 is kept closed.
• the second control valve 20 thus regulates the pressure maintaining the pres- sure around 4 bar at the pressure monitoring point.
• the control pressure can be transmitted to the third control valve 21 by opening the valve 26 in the third control line 41 .
• the valve 25 in the second control line 38 can be either open or closed.
• the third control valve 21 now regulates the pressure maintaining it around 3 bar at the pressure monitoring point.
• the opening pressures of the control valves do not need to be adjustable.
• the pressure regulating arrangement could comprise four or more control valves or only two control valves.
• pneumatically controlled valves could be used.
• the pressure regulating arrangement could also be provided instead of two or more solenoid valves with a single valve for selecting which of the control valves are connected to the control line.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Lubrication Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=54754684

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (2)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2015
  • 2015-11-19 WO PCT/FI2015/050803 patent/WO2017085354A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2015-11-19 EP EP15802178.2A patent/EP3377737B1/en active Active
  • 2015-11-19 CN CN201580084595.6A patent/CN108291462B/zh active Active
  • 2015-11-19 KR KR1020187016899A patent/KR102084873B1/ko active IP Right Grant

Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events